CONUNDRUMS 243

of what I have said before. My aim is not to be consistent
with my previous statements on a given question, but to be
consistent with truth as it may present itself to me at a.
given moment. The result has been that I have grown from
truth to truth; I have saved my memory an undue strain;
and what is more, whenever I have been obliged to compare
my writing even of fifty years ago with the latest, I have
discovered no inconsistency between the two. But friends
who observe inconsistency will do well to take the meaning
that my latest writing may yield' unless, of course, they
prefer the old. But before miking the choice they should
try to see if there is not an underlying and abiding
consistency between the two seeming inconsistencies.

So far as my inscrutability is concerned, friends should
take my assurance that there is never any attempt on my
part to suppress my thought when it is relevant. Sometimes
it arises from my desire to be brief. And sometimes it must
be due to my own ignorance of tli * subject on wliich I may
be called upon to give an opinion.

To give a typical instancy a friend, between whom
and me there never is any mental reservation, thus writes
in anguish rather than anger:

"In the not-improbable event of India being s. theatre of
war, is Gandhiji prepared to advhz, his countrymen to bare their
breasts to the enemy's sword? A little while ago I would have
pledged my word he would do so, but I am not confident any
more-"

I can only assure him that, notwithstanding my recent
writings, he can retain his confidence that I would give
the same advice as he expects I would have given before,
or as I gave to the Czechs or the Abyssinians. My non-
violence is made of stern stuff. It is firmer than the firmest
metal known to the scientists. Yet, alas. I am painfully
conscious of the fact that it has still not attained its native
firmness. If it had, God would have shown me the way to
deal with the many local cases of violence that I helplessly
witness daily. This is said not in arrogance but in the certain
knowledge of the power of perfect non-violence. I will not
have the power of non-violence to be underestimated in
order to cover my limitations or weaknesses.